Adapting Our Practice

Whether your spiritual practice is yoga, meditation, prayer, recovery meetings, or anything else, it can be difficult to keep it up when our schedules change. One place we see this as a difficulty for ourselves is when we’re on vacation, traveling for work, or just changing things up. Here are a few tips for keeping up your practice while on the go!

Vacation and Travel

When going on vacation, it can be easy to let our practice fall by the wayside. Whether you’re sailing on a catamaran in the Caribbean or going home for the holidays to be with family, the change in schedule and energy can throw our practice for a spin.

One thing that has really helped us while traveling is to try to keep our priorities straight. Sometimes, we forget about our practice and don’t make time for it. When going on vacation, set aside some time to practice. You may not know your whole schedule ahead of time, but set an intention. Try to wake up a few minutes early, or find some time at the end of the day to be alone. We have to be flexible and recognize the change, but we can also make our practice a priority.

Moving to a New Location

We moved a few years ago, and it was a huge change in the way we practice yoga, meditation, and our personal recovery programs. We’re around new people, in a new area, and probably have a different schedule. Moving can be stressful for many reasons, but let’s just focus on our spiritual practice in the process.

When moving, one of the best things I’ve found to do is to plug in right away to a local community. Rather than getting settled on our own and become accustomed to practicing alone, we can build a new habit right away by diving into the local community. This may be a local twelve-step group, a yoga studio, a church, or a meditation center. Find other people to practice with and encourage one another to grow!

A Change in Schedule

Sometimes, our schedules simply change. This may be because of family, changes in school schedule, or maybe a new job. When our schedules change, we can become a bit disoriented or destabilized. I often notice in my personal life that these changes bring about periods of less practice as I am more focused on other things in my life.

During these periods, it’s helpful to keep a schedule and have some regular practice. Personally, I find that practicing at the same time every day helps me keep it consistent. This could be in the morning before breakfast, in the afternoon after work, or at night before bed. You find the time that works for you, try to adapt as much as possible, and find what works for you!